The robber apparently indicated the presence of a bomb, leading police to evacuate nearby businesses and to order a lockdown at Venice High School and Venice Elementary School, which are also close.

The police have encouraged anyone with information about the incident to call 486-2444.

EARLIER: Lockdowns at Venice Elementary and Venice High School have been lifted and school operations have returned to normal. The two schools were placed on lockdown Monday morning while Venice police investigated a bomb threat that was directed at Fifth Third Bank at U.S. 41 Business and Milan Avenue.

Police also blocked the intersection and directed traffic away from the site.

As police searched for a bank robbery suspect today in Venice, two nearby schools were put on lockdown mode for safety, Sarasota County school district spokesman Scott Ferguson said.A automated phone call went out to parents at Venice Elementary and Venice High School to inform them of the situation at about 10:50 a.m.

“All students are safe during the lockdown but movement on campus is limited. Please do not come to school to pick up your students. We are monitoring the situation and will send another message when the schools resume normal operation,” the message said.

A Venice Police dispatcher said the police department was busy and no one was available for comment Monday morning.

Ferguson said the district plans to send out a second message after the suspect is apprehended and the schools are back to normal.